<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 2008 I made the bizarre and, with hindsight, slightly irrational decision to sign up for the 26^th Marathon</span><span style="font-size: small;"> des Sables. Fast-forward a few years and apparently the time has come for me to don my all in one suit, dust off the D of E hardened gaiters and join the world of &lsquo;lunatics and masochists&rsquo;. On Thursday 31^st March I will fly out to Morocco</span><span style="font-size: small;"> and begin my Marathon</span><span style="font-size: small;"> des Sables challenge. I will be covering 151 miles over 6 days in temperatures which may reach 50⁰ Celsius; tripping over rocky terrain, dodging blisters and to add insult to injury, I will be expected to carry my trusty belongings, anti venom pump and rations included; where&rsquo;s Ocado when you need them&hellip;</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have chosen to run for two charities which both do fantastic work and have helped those closest to me.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My other charity is Sue Ryder Care. Sue Ryder Care </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN">supports people living with conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis, dementia and stroke.</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;" lang="EN"> If you would like to sponsor Sue Ryder Care the </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">sponsorship page can be found at &ndash;</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Charlotte-Hickinbotham"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.justgiving.com/Charlotte-Hickinbotham</span></a></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;">Hopefully, I'll be able to update everyone on my progress through the event as the official MdS website will show a list of finishers after each day. At least you'll know if I'm alive. The run itself starts on 3 April and finishes on 9 April. From the 2-10 April, you can theoretically send me messages, again via the </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/">official website</a></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;">, although I won't be able to respond directly. Click on "write to runners" or "&eacute;crire aux concurrents"; you&rsquo;ll need my running number (dossard) of 765. Feel free to entertain me with inconsequential gossip, a quick &ldquo;keep going&rdquo; or &ldquo;put your foot down&rdquo; or even inspirational and life changing advice. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><a href="http://fsid.org.uk/images/FavIcon.ico"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">FSID</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> aims to prevent unexpected deaths in infancy and promote infant health by</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">funding research</span></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">supporting families whose babies have died suddenly and unexpectedly</span></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">disseminating information on infant health, baby care and sudden infant deaths to health professionals and the general public, and</span></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">working with professionals to improve investigations when a baby dies.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">My family have benefited hugely from the studies, advice and support that the FSID undertake and provide on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p> </p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although many of you are just about ready to commit me, I would really appreciate any spare change, pay cheque or winning lottery ticket you can afford to hand over. I have personally funded the cost of the &lsquo;trip&rsquo; and all it entails so all money goes directly to the charities. Both charities I will be running for do wonderful work and the more money I can raise for them, the more being heckled by 8 year olds as I limp up the school stairs will seem worthwhile. </span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank yoooouuuu! xxx</span></span></p>